Are you ready to become a DIY plumbing pro, or at the very least somebody who can fix the small plumbing problems that may arise? You could save many 100s of dollars by taking care of dripping faucets or overflowing toilets yourself. Take care of small plumbing problems before they become something only plumbing professionals can solve.

We’ve got six useful tips that you can apply to your plumbing problems as soon as you have the right tools.

Don’t Be Worried to Replace Parts Inside Your Toilet or Faucet

Taking apart pipes beneath your sink or shower can lead to messy problems if you make a mistake. However, there’s very little you can harm by trying to replace your toilet’s flapper or your faucet’s cartridge.

Worn flappers are a frequent cause of leaks between the toilet tank and bowl. And they only cost a few dollars! As a added bonus, the package comes with easy-to-follow instructions for replacement.

Many modern faucets can be repaired by replacing the entire interior with a new cartridge. This only requires that you remove a screw or two. So, if you hear the toilet running frequently, or your sink is dripping, get replacement parts and give it a go.

Eliminate Clogs Without Chemicals

Next time your drain is clearing slowly, Do not buy expensive, chemical drain cleaners. Manually unclog a drain with a drain snake. Just insert into the drain and pull back out with (hopefully) the clog culprit attached. If you Do not have or Do not want to hassle with one, try using a wet/dry shop vacuum to suck out the clog.

Examine out Your Showerhead for Issues

Thread tape is also one of the easiest ways to fix a dripping showerhead. Chances are, the leak means the threads aren’t connecting tightly. Unscrew the showerhead, apply new tape by wrapping in a clockwise direction, and re-attach to stop the drip.

If the showerhead is clogged, soak it in a bowl with warm water and vinegar for about an hour. Use a small brush to loosen any mineral deposits that could be causing blockages in the spray.

Forget Thread Sealing Compounds, Use Thread Tape

Thread sealing compound, frequently known as “pipe dope,” can drip and smear. For Many DIY projects involving pipe threads around the house, thread tape will work just as well or better. You can buy a multi-purpose tape, which is usually white. Thicker tape is usually yellow for gas or pink for water. Try one of the thicker options for easier handling.

Anytime you wrap the tape, roll it counterclockwise around the threads. Can’t get the roll into a tight space? Wrap a few turns of tape around a cheap pen and apply from that. You’ll want to wrap your tape around the pipe threads roughly three times for best results.

Use Heat to Loosen Tough Water Pipe Fittings

Can’t get that trap beneath the sink or pipe fitting loose, no matter how hard you try with a pipe wrench? Hardened fittings make it nearly impossible to budge the fitting with brute strength.

You may be able to apply heat to loosen up old, solidified pipe dope. A small propane torch will do the trick, but you’ll have to apply heat for a few minutes before much progress can be made. Use heat-resistant material to protect nearby walls.

It may seem apparent, but only heat on metal water pipes, never on or next to gas pipes, and not on plastic pipes or fittings.

Make Your Water Heater More Efficient

Check out your water heater’s thermostat to make sure it’s not set too high. You should be able to go down to 115 degrees and still have adequate hot water for your needs. You’ll also want to protect your water heater’s tank. Hot water will stay hot longer this way but be careful not to cover the thermostat. Some utilities provide inexpensive or free insulating blankets that are simple to install.

You may live in an area where sediment gathers quickly in the lines. Sediment can also collect quickly in systems using a well. Get rid of the grit by emptying a quart of water from your tank once every 3 months. First, turn off the water heater and open the drain into a steel bowl or bucket. This will remove a lot of the sediment that has settled near the bottom of the tank which can make your water heater run less efficiently.

You may be reluctant to tackle tough plumbing projects alone, but small clogs and leaks can often be fixed without calling in the professionals. It’s a good idea to have a plumber’s number on hand just in case you encounter an issue you can’t solve. Hopefully, you will likely find that small plumbing projects are easy and satisfying to work on by yourself.

With the holidays right around the corner, you are strapped for money. Everyone in your family has been bragging about all the things they desire under the tree.

Unfortunately, you do not know how you can make that occur. The bank will not approve you for a loan and your credit will not get you anything either.

Instead of selling your soul trying to get some additional money, turn to pawn shops instead. There’s no credit check and it is a chance for you to clean out all that clutter in the attic.

The typical national amount most pawn shops provide is around $150 but depending on the item, you can get much more.

To find out how much money you can get, here are the best things to pawn. Take a look!

Precious Metals

Pawn shops are always advertising that you can exchange your gold jewelry for a good wad of money. It might seem like a scam but it is actually the truth.

Gold price fluctuates on a daily basis, but do not let that deter you. it is a metal that’ll always be in demand and pawn shops can make a nice profit from gold chains you no longer need. That mean they’ll be willing to offer you a nice price for them.

Other precious metals include platinum, silver, and palladium to name a few.

Power Tools

Have more tools than you know what to do with? Pawn them!

You’d be surprised how many people go to a pawn shop looking for power tools. Especially ones that do not come within a set.

Shop owners understand that plenty of construction workers walk through their doors looking for adding to their tool collection.

Video Game Consoles and Games

That Xbox collecting dust in the basement can make you at least three digits. Be sure it is functional and cleaned properly in order to get the highest amount possible.

Selling games you will not replay can also be used to gain to some quick money but know that you’ll have to exchange more titles if you desire to get at least $100. Popular games like Madden, Grand Theft Auto, and Call of Duty can get you a good amount.

Electronics

One caveat when selling electronics: they should be somewhat new if you desire a good sized loan. No one at the pawn shop is looking buy or exchange to their customers a TV that’s from twenty years ago.

Technology has evolved so do not expect to get a whole lot for electronics that have been sitting dormant in your home. Pawn shops desire to invest in items that are relevant and in demand.

Lightweight laptops, iPads, and smart TVs are what people are looking for, especially around the holidays. If you have these to pawn, expect a higher amount to be offered to you.

Smartphones

Smartphones have become like water, a necessity of life. Nowadays, young and old people can be seen with a smartphone.

That said, they’re in high demand when it comes to pawn shops. Older versions of iPhones, Galaxy’s, and LG’s can have you seeing between $100 to $400. The newer the model, the more you’ll get so keep that in mind.

The Best Things to Pawn Answered

do not let the pressure of the holidays get you down. When you need to make some quick money, keep these best things to pawn in mind. You’ll have additional green while Everybody gets what they desire on their list!

For most people, divorce undoubtedly will be ugly. For tons of reasons it’s how it will play out. For many people, though, breaking up is a grief-filled experience full of genuine loss and wonderful opportunities. If that’s where you are, if you simply were not designed to be married anymore and you are two people of good will, attempting to be decent to each other, here are ten good ways to protect and insulate your fragile peace:

1. Don’t try to be friends too quickly.

Your responses, urges, needs and interests will cycle differently. You require a safe, professional distance from each other to conduct business, set the rules and limitations that will allow you to move into a parenting partnership and to see if a new friendship might flourish.

2. Lawyers get ready for the worst. Mediators draw out your best.

Start with a good intermediary who is also a lawyer. If you’re not at war already, heading to an aggressive lawyer out of fear will certainly start one. If you have a working relationship, similar goals and no huge wedge issues up front, try an experienced intermediary first. You’ll save oodles of finances and are more likely to come out of it with the good parts of your relationship intact

3. Write a Parenting Plan that talks directly to your children.

If you start out with “To Bobby and Ali,Riley,Betty,Bella,Emily,Amy,” you are more likely to compose a plan with your kids’ best interests in clear focus. Picture them reading it. If they are old enough, share it with them. Show them you are working as a team, from the beginning, on their behalf.

4. Trust But Verify: Mark everything down

Do not presume either of you will remember or abide by the contract no matter how friendly things are. Get it all in writing in a defined plan and contract so nobody ‘does not remember’ or acts out. This is why a intermediary who is also a lawyer is such a strong choice. Especially with issues of finances and parenting, the more details are in writing the better. For example, if you live in the same area and are comfortable with the non-custodial spouse or co-parent visiting during non-visiting times or if you are agreeing to a degree of flexibility, compose it down.

5. Agree on how to disagree

Failure is inevitable. Things will zig when you thought they’d zag. Minefields will blow in areas you had no idea were even tender. Have a plan for that. What’s your process for when you hit a snag? What if somebody gets a better job and the finances changes, or if somebody wants to relocate or if you think parents should pay for graduate school but he doesn’t? What is your process? Head back to mediation? Write down the precise process so everybody is clear.

6. Time Outs: Outline clear and effective consequences

.Agree on what happens if one person does not abide by the contract or somehow does not follow through. Like with parenting, you require to know what happens to those who break the rules – make sure you know what happens to the rule breaker and what the ex gets to do about it.

7. Resist old patterns

Part of the healing of divorce is you are no longer responsible for your partner’s insecurities, self hatred, whacked relationship with his/her family, professional disappointments or any other despair you had to live with. Same for them. No more front-loading onto them and no more listening TO them. You both are released so be released. Resist the urge to give or seek old patterns of support. Beware of divorce sex. I’ll just leave it at that.

8. Let your relationship transform. Burn the old and see what emerges.

If your relationship is going to have any chance at re-emerging in a new, healthy form that allows you to be friends and strong parenting partners, you have to let it all go first. Who knows what you’ll keep or who you will become. Don’t feel betrayed if the other person withdraws or remains silent when you start a riff on how hard it is to blah blah blah. She/he is wisely attempting to build new limitations for the care and safety of your relationship. It may feel lousy and lonely for a while but it’s the only way to move forward in a healthy way.

9. Get together as a (newly-reconfigured) family

If you can, make time to gather as a family. Go out for dinner. Show the kids you still care about each other. They are going to want you back together anyway and you might as well start demonstrating early that they still have two parents who love them and value each other, and we are still a family no matter what.

ten. No new people

If there are third parties involved, you’re probably not going to be able to take any of this advice because somebody did somebody really wrong and somebody is enraged, betrayed and deeply wounded. If, however, somehow there were others involved or others come enter the scene early on, do not, DO NOT involve them with the kids. Even if the kids are teenagers it’s too confusing and raw. Let the focus be on the family of origin.

Gardening can be a bunch of fun and can also be a satisfying experience that can assist make your home look awesome or even provide food for your family to eat. However, if you’re completely new to gardening it might be a bit daunting when starting out.

Luckily, we are here to assist. Below we’ll give you our top gardening tips for beginners so that you can get started on the right foot.

1. Soil Matters

Certainly one of the things you need to learn about gardening is that the type of soil you use is very important. It’s a awesome idea to learn about soil and to test it before getting started with your garden.

Types of soil and its grade can vary quite a bit. If you don’t have high-grade soil where you’re building your garden, you might want to go get some from the store. Consider purchasing some topsoil at your local store that is full of nutrients and has been well-drained.

Keep in mind that the better the soil you use the better time you’ll have when growing your garden and the healthier your plants will be.

2. Mulch It Up

In addition to having awesome soil, it’s also a awesome idea to use mulch. A 2′ to 3′ layer of mulch can be a awesome assist in making sure any plants you plant in your garden grow up strong and healthy.

Mulch helps in a couple of different ways. Mulch can assist to stop weeds from growing by blocking out the sun that helps them grow around your plant. Additionally, mulch can also assist stop moisture loss after watering which can be very useful for maintaining healthy plants.

3. Keep It Close

The location is also important when it comes time to build your garden.

Preferably, place your garden close to where your eyesight will be when you’re looking outside your window or when you go out your door. Choose a garden location that is close to your home and that you’ll see often.

A garden can be easy to neglect if it’s out of sight. It’s important to water a garden and maintain it often so you need to make sure it’s always at the top of your mind.

4. Know How to Use Water

It’s also important to be wise when watering your plants. Many people make the mistake of watering their plants too much. Believe it or not, many plants don’t need much water in order to stay healthy and using too much can sometimes end up drowning a plant and making it die.

Be sure to find out about the specific requirements of each plant before getting started. If you do, you’ll have a much better chance of growing a healthy, strong and beautiful garden.

5. Let the Sunshine In

Certainly one of the most important things about making a garden is that you need to make sure it gets plenty of sunlight. At least 6 hours of sunlight is ideal for most plants to grow strong.

Before building your garden, it’s important to be observant. Check what parts of your yard is reached by the sunlight each day.

Make sure that the spot gets a good amount of sunlight throughout the day before building your garden there. Otherwise, you might have to deal with a big headache later on.

6. Know the Frost Dates

When building a garden, you also need to learn your frost dates. Do your research and find out what they are so you can plant your plants at the right time.

After the spring frost date, you need to be careful that you don’t put your plants out too early and risk killing them. Before the fall frost date, you need to make sure you harvest them or bring them inside in time.

Planting plants in your garden at the wrong time can lead to problems so it’s important that you learn when the average spring and fall frost dates are.

7. Learn About Hardiness Zones

It’s also important to learn about hardiness zones so that you can make your plant selections wisely and learn exactly what you’re dealing with.

A hardiness zone helps you determine what regions can handle which plants. The warmer climates correspond to higher numbers. Using a hardiness zone map can assist you determine whether your zone is too cold for a plant to survive.

In North America, there are eleven different planting zones so you need to be aware of this when working on your garden. Make sure you learn what your own zone is and determine what a plant needs before planting it.

8. Be Persistent

One final tip to remember is that you need to be persistent when building a garden for the first time.

Your hands will get dirty and not everything will work out as you planned. Sometimes plants will die despite your Greatest efforts. Making mistakes is part of the process so don’t worry or beat yourself up if something unexpected happens.

As you learn more about the ecosystem at your home and sharpen your green thumb you’ll find that your skills keep getting better and better. Push through any setbacks and just keep going.

Using These Gardening Tips For Beginners

Gardening can be a awesome hobby or even a means of having fresh and organic food for you and your family. Make sure that you’re using these gardening tips for beginners if you want to ensure you have the easiest and most successful time digging around in the dirt.

Ready to build your garden? Looking for landscaping materials? Check out our contact page now to learn more and request a quote.

The big moving or cleaning day has come and you are ready to move into your self storage unit. Certainly you have planned for the basics, like touring the facility, acquiring your exclusive key code for the gate and purchasing a lock for the door; but there are a couple of tips that may come as a surprise to you.

Our experienced team of self storage professionals have a ton of knowledge they have gained over the years. They’ve compiled their Greatest ten Storage tips you may not have known to help you make the most out of your storage experience.

AND THE Best ten ARE:

Recommendations for Storing your items in a self storage unit

1. Use dryer sheets to keep insects and spiders away. Put them in all corners and boxes particularly by the front of the unit. The sheets will also keep your items smelling fresh! (Be sure to replace the dryer sheets monthly to maximize results)

2. Use breathable materials like cardboard for storage so that moisture isn’t trapped. Never store your items in plastic bags or other airtight containers.

3. Make an aisle between boxes so you can easily access your stored items. Sometimes you will need single items from the unit, with an aisle, you won’t have to move all of the other boxes out!

4. Put charcoal in a pan and leave it in your unit. It will help absorb moisture.

5. Make the most use of vertical space by stacking boxes of the same size and storing couches on their side. Use shelving along the sides of your unit for even more space and organization!

6. Use mattress covers to keep mattresses and box springs dust-free. (We have them in all sizes). Or you can use 2 fitted sheets to cover the greatest and bottom to keep the dust away.

7. Leave a small space between the walls and your boxes. It prevents mold and allows for ventilation. Also use our wood pallets to keep your boxes off the floor for further ventilation.

8. While many items you store will be temperature resistant, be cautious with very sensitive items like electronics. Don’t store them in extremely cold weather. Freezing temperatures can ruin electronics like flat screen TVs and can even wipe the hard drive of laptops and computers! If you remove the items in the cold, allow them to sit for 48 hours in your heated home before plugging them in to prevent plastic components from cracking.

9. Drain all fuel from leaf blowers, lawn mowers and other gas-powered machines. When storing your car, make sure the gas tank is either completely full or completely empty to avoid condensation!

10. Pack your truck in reverse from how you would like your unit packed. A little planning goes a long way!

These are just a couple of tips to get you started. Be sure to ask your Self Storage manager for more tips and tricks to make your storage experience the best it can be!

Dogs are man’s best friend and have earned excellent treatment. More mature dogs have been dependable best friends for years. They have enriched the life of their owners and should have treated like family.

USA Today qualifies More mature dogs as at least age six or seven. They also say that there are about 10k More mature dogs in the US that require adoption at any chosen time. That total can increase after a national disaster or economic downturn.

Grooming your older dog is a great way to demonstrate that you care. Grooming increases health and beauty for the advantage of you and the dog. Older dogs are more complicated to groom, but they require it more than the young dogs.

Read on to learn more about dog grooming tips for beloved More mature dogs.

Basic Dog Grooming Tips

Consistency is key when it comes to grooming your senior dog. Do some basic grooming each day, week and month depending on the area. The more often you groom your dog, the more used to it they will be.

A lot of people require help when it comes to keeping their More mature dog groomed. They bring their canine to a groomer, vet or dog parlor.

Don’t take your elderly dog to the lowest priced groomer in the area. Chances are they won’t have the best-trained employees and your best bud won’t enjoy the trip.

Here are some more specialized areas of pet grooming to consider:

Bathing

Bathing is a great one to start with since it is pretty obvious. Dogs don’t always smell like roses. Anyone who has owned a dog knows that they stink if you don’t bathe them often and clean them up when they have dirty.

The ASPCA recommends that dogs get a bath at least once every three months. Do this more often as long as the process isn’t strenuous for the dog.

Older dogs are tougher to have into an old-fashioned bathtub for cleaning. Walk-in showers or hosing off outdoors is usually the best way to go to avoid joint distress.

Don’t forget to clean behind the ears!

Hair Trimming

Depending on the breed of your dog, fur can also have quite matted. Matted fur can be painful, itchy and restricting. It can also become an area that gets infected.

Dog hair also needs washing, conditioning and blow-drying like any other hair. Dogs have split ends like United States!

Older dogs might not have the same shiny coat that they used to have when they were younger. This doesn’t mean you can’t maximize the health of their fur.

Nails

Over the years your dog has scratched up your furniture, floors or even you on occasion. It wasn’t on purpose of course and you still love them anyway.

Whether they scratch or not, nails need trimming on a regular basis. Dogs might end up licking or chewing on their nails and paws if it isn’t done. For older dogs, this means an increased risk of infection and complication.

It could also help them maintain a proper grip. When they are walking, their nails help to avoid slipping. Nails also make it less difficult to have up or lay down on certain surfaces.

It’s not as easy as using a pair of nail clippers though. Like many animals, part of dog nails have nerve endings. You require to be cautious not to clip or file them too low.

Tick and Flea Prevention

Even dogs that don’t spend much time outdoors can have ticks and fleas. It only takes one quick bathroom break on the lawn to pick up these dangerous parasites.

Tick and flea prevention and treatment is crucial for older dogs during grooming. Older dogs may have lower immune systems.

Ticks can cause Lyme disease which can make dogs ill. Fleas can cause excessive scratching along with hair loss and irritated skin. Treatments like tick and flea shampoo will help to clear up the problem. Medication to treat or prevent these pests is also a regular course of action.

Give Your Dog the Very Best Treatment

Keep these mature dog grooming tips in mind next time your pal needs a tune-up. Your kind canine deserves to look and feel their best.

If you’re going to work with grooming professionals, work with the best. Don’t try to use discount dog grooming services that will end up neglecting your pooch. Go with the best in the industry since 1978.

Contact United States today to set up your grooming appointment or veterinary visit for your dog. Our experienced vets perform all kinds of animal care and surgery as well.

Regardless of whether you’ve just relocated or are wanting for a brief, minimal home pick-me-up, or perhaps something more appreciable, there are some popular interior design tips that interior designers employ that you also can easily do with minimal effort and cost. Often times the tiniest things make the best impact. It could be the inclusion of a mirror, a painting, a lamp or even a plant. Maybe you want to soften your walls, brighten a room, or add some warmth to your living space. Take a look at these Smart design tips and see how they can inspire you!

1. Paint lesser rooms in softer, lighter colors to help make the room feel bigger.

The living room is a great example of how to maximize a small living space. A room of this size has the tendency to seem cramped, but the large windows, light colored walls and ample use of mirrors not only reflect the natural light pouring in from the doors and the windows but the use of mirrors also gives the optical illusion of space, making the room seem bigger than it actually is. Alternatively, darker colors will make a room feel lesser. Even with the abundance of natural light and the strategic placement of the mirrors, this room in a darker shade would own a more boxed-in feel to it.

2. Use decorative mirrors to add instant light to your living space.

As seen above, mirrors can also be utilized to make a small space feel bigger. For bigger rooms, or any room with a more restricted amount of natural light, mirrors placed straight across from the windows, will add instant light. Attractive mirrors can also be utilized in stead of art to fill empty wall space. Large or small, mirrors add light and dimension to your living space.

3. Mix it up. Mix up patterns and textures. Mix up old and new, expensive and inexpensive.

There’s nothing incorrect with placing family heirlooms along with your modern couch. All good interior decorators will tell you that the most important aspect to decorating your home is that it reflects who you are, your personality and your style. The antique desk that was your grandfather’s tells a story. It tells the story of your past. The modern couch you fell in love with and simply had to purchase also tells a story, your present story, and there is no reason why the present and past can’t co-exist beautifully together. The same can be said for art. Now you might not want to place a painting by Kincaid on the same wall next to a Monet, but there’s no reason why they can’t be in the same room together. With fabrics Regardless of whether it be furniture, rugs or pillows, varied colors and patterns can bring warmth and texture into your living space.

4. Slip into something a minimal more comfortable!

Slip covers often get a bad rap but they are truly wonderful things. They can serve as a means of changing your furniture’s look to reflect the seasons. These easily removed coverings allow you to own a sophisticated look without constantly worrying about people dirtying or spilling on your furniture. Slip covers are ideal for rooms utilized frequently by children. Above the white slip-covered couches gives the air of a casual, comfortable, easy yet sophisticated elegance.

5. Wicker baskets

Wicker baskets are an economical and elegant way to add storage to any room. Baskets can be utilized to store and display books, architectural and decor magazines, toys, towels and blankets to name a few. Place a couple of small wicker baskets on the counter-tops in your kitchen to beautifully display and store your fruit and vegetables.

6. Use what you already own to decorate.

We all own items in our possession, probably packed up in boxes somewhere and haven’t given them a second glance. Your home needs some accessories. Instead of running to the store, take a good look at what you already own. Trays, wooden, acrylic, metal or silver can be placed on top of luggage racks, tea carts, trunks, bedside tables and coffee tables for extra texture and dimension. Arrange candles on them, frames or pile books on top of them. Plates can be hung to create wonderful wall art. Art from children’s books can be framed and hung in nurseries, children’s rooms or their bathrooms. You will be amazed at what you can do with what you already own!

7. Add a suspended pot holder to your kitchen.

Kitchens are meant to be warm and inviting. We spend much of our time in them Regardless of whether it be for preparing meals, serving meals or entertaining. A suspended pot rack is useful elegance. Kitchens are meant to feel as though they are in constant use and a suspended pot rack certainly makes one feel this way. In inclusion to wanting so wonderful, (there are many sizes and styles available) additional cupboard space below is now freed up to store other items. Seldom has anyone complained of having also much storage.

8. Go green.

Add plants to your living space. Add them to every room, small or large, few or many. Plants are an inexpensive means to accessorizing your space and adding color and texture. Not only are plants beautiful but many can clean household air and balance humidity. They can absorb pollutants and remove harmful gases from the air. No home should be without these wonderful greens!

9. Paint or wallpaper your bookcases.

This instant pop of color will brighten and re-energize any room! It’s amazing how something so simple as a coat of colorful paint can instantly energize and Improve your space. This built-in bookcase would be simple and ordinary without the bright blue interior. possibly the simplest and most inexpensive way to Improve a boring space is to apply a coat of paint somewhere unexpected. Bookcases are an ideal place to start because you don’t need to paint a large area. Other fun places to add a pop of color include painting fireplace mantels, the insides of closets, hallways and ceilings.

ten. Use area rugs to soften hardwood floors.

Throw rugs give warmth and can add great texture, color and personality to your living space. Hardwood floors are beautiful and easy to maintain but they lack the comfort that carpeted floors offer, especially in the cooler months. Area rugs can add fun and functionality to your living space. Use several of varying patterns and fabrics together to showcase your character. Or add several rugs of the same pattern and fabric, or different textures but the same color. The possibilities are endless. You can change your area rugs to reflect the seasons using warmer tones and fabrics for cooler months and lighter ones for the warmer days of the year. There are many lovely cotton, washable area rugs which are ideal for those homes with children. There really is no reason why a home with young children cannot also be a stylish one.

Reuse

You no doubt know about the three Rs and how significant they are. Reducing the quantity of items we own and the quantity of trash we create, suggests less things will end up in the garbage. Reusing what we can gives our items another life and keeps them out of the trash. Recycling takes a range of stuff and puts them to good use, helping the economy, creating jobs and producing new products. You may have the mantra of “reduce, reuse and recycle” down, but there are more Rs you can add to your routine.

Just Say Absolutely No

Refuse! Bringing a reusable shopping bag is a great way to cut back on how much you end up with. A big part of living a zero trash lifestyle is refusing what you do not need. What else can you refuse? Remove yourself from trash mail lists to cut back on paper.

Borrow, Don’t Buy

Be aware of the life cycle of any item you purchase or acquire. Where did it come from and where will it end up? There are plenty of options for borrowing and sharing to help minimize how much things you own. Choose to reuse as much as you can.

The sharing economy is bigger than ever. Access a wide range of items and services only when you need them. If you need books, movies or magazines, visit your nearby library. You can even establish your own little free library in your area. Toys take up lots of space and are commonly non-recyclable. Try using a resource like the toy sharing library in your area or establish a hand-me-down network. Instead of sending gifts that someone won’t use or need, provide experiential gifts that create fun memories, not trash.

Choose to Fix-it

When items become worn or stop working, they commonly end up in the trash. By fixing and maintaining the items in our homes, we can keep them functioning longer. This way, you will have other options, like donation or resale, instead of adding them to the trash stream. Bring your items to county fix-it clinics for help or use online repair resources. You can even borrow the tools you need from nearby resources like the Minnesota Tool Library.

Donate

Extend the life-cycle of an item you may no longer need by selling or donating it. Networks like Nextdoor allow you to interact with other users in your area to communicate and exchange items and services. Craigslist and Facebook also have ways to sell your items and buy used items online. For safety’s sake, it’s recommended to only deal with people locally and use sanctioned exchange locations, like the swap meet.

Review

By refusing and repairing, you make it much easier to minimize items you don’t need and reuse items you already have. Always look for more ways to minimize and keep working to create less trash and make sure your items are recycled as much as possible. Do a zero trash challenge or trash audit. Are there items you could do without? Commit to your decision to minimize, reuse, recycle, repair, refuse, and review by sharing your story. Be proud of your achievements!

Regular eye exams are the very best way to avoid vision problems, even as you get older. If you haven’t had an eye exam in over a year, schedule a visit with an eye doctor near you.

Staying mindful of certain warning signs also can help you take appropriate steps to maintain your eyesight, particularly if vision symptoms occur suddenly. In many cases, such as with a detached retina or rapid onset of glaucoma, prompt intervention is essential to avoid or minimize vision loss that is permanent.

Although many eye problems can occur at any age, they often are more common in senior individuals. Unfortunately, aging also increases your risk for certain types of sight-threatening eye conditions that can lead to blindness.

10 Signs And Symptoms Of Eye Problems

The next signs and symptoms can indicate a medical emergency or an important condition that could cause significant vision loss over time. In most cases, you should see your eye doctor asap if you experience:

Blurry traffic on a busy highway.
Blurry vision, ghost images and nighttime halos around lights all can be warning signs of eye problems.

A flood of spots and floaters in your field of vision. Usually, eye floaters are due to a benign, age-related condition called detachment that is vitreous. This occurs when the eye’s gel-like interior liquefies and separates from the retina, the light-sensitive inner lining of the back of the eye.

But a Immediate onset of spots and floaters also can be caused by a serious, sight-threatening tear or detachment of the retina. If you suddenly see a shower of spots and floaters, visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist immediately.

A sensation that a curtain that is dark settled across your field of view. This could be caused by a detachment that is retinal which occurs when the retina separates from the underlying layer of nourishing blood vessels (choroid). If the retina is not reattached within hours, vision loss can be permanent.

Sudden eye pain, redness, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms can signal a Immediate (acute) attack of narrow-angle glaucoma, which can permanently damage the eye’s optic nerve. Immediate treatment is required to prevent vision loss that is permanent.

Double vision, double images or “ghost” images. Double vision can be caused by many eye conditions. In some cases, double vision also can signal an underlying health emergency such as a stroke. If you have a sudden onset of double vision, see your eye doctor or family physician immediately.

Sudden blurry vision in one eye. If you are over 60, your chance of developing a macular hole in the part of the retina where fine focusing occurs increases. Because macular holes can worsen and cause permanent loss of vision, it’s important to visit your eye care practitioner for a diagnosis and treatment that is promptif necessary).

The same photo, as seen by someone with tunnel vision.A simulation of peripheral vision loss, also known as tunnel vision. A narrowing of your field of view. A reduction of your ability to see objects off to the sides could be a sign of glaucoma. Without intervention, peripheral vision loss could continue to worsen, leading to tunnel vision or even blindness.

A gradual loss of central vision, including distortions such as straight lines wavy that is appearing. These symptoms may be caused by macular degeneration (AMD), a cause that is leading of among older Americans. In the past, there was no treatment that is effective macular degeneration. But today, new medical treatments sometimes can halt or limit AMD-related vision loss.

Cloudy and eyesight that is blurred “halos” around lights at night, loss of bright color vision. These vision changes may be due to cataracts. Cataracts tend to worsen gradually over time and are not a medical emergency. Nevertheless, as your eye’s natural lens continues to cloud with aging, your vision will continue to deteriorate unless you have cataract surgery that replaces your cloudy lens with a custom intraocular lens (IOL).

You increase your chance of complications such as glaucoma if you wait too long for cataract surgery. Also, if cataract surgery is postponed too long, the cloudy lens can harden and become more difficult to remove.

Blind spots in your field of view, accompanied by eye floaters and unexplained blurred vision. These vision problems may be due to the onset of diabetic retinopathy if you have diabetes. Regular eye exams are essential for diabetics, particularly if you are over age 60. By evaluating the condition of your retina, your eye doctor can provide information that is valuable your general physician about the control and severity of your diabetes.

“Scratchy” or irritated sensation, eye surface pain, tearing. These signs and symptoms are most commonly due to dry eye syndrome. Dry eyes usually are more of a nuisance than a sight-threatening condition. But symptoms can particularly be severe as you get older and your body produces fewer tears or your tear chemistry changes. Consult your eye care practitioner for advice about remedies, which may include over-the-counter or prescription eye drops.

Successful weed killers need to either get rid of existing weeds or stop them from growing back later on. While no weed killer is 100% effective at wiping out all the different types of weeds, the best have a large variety they can handle. That is why the top weed killer on this list has earned its place: combining an effective formula Along with a long list of areas you can use it, the Compare-N-Save Concentrate Grass and Weed Killer is the best.

Introduced in a variety of sizes, this weed killer can deal Along with existing weeds and makes a large amount of weeding spray for easy application. You can apply the weed killer in virtually any landscape including the lawn, flower beds, vegetable/fruit gardens, and pathways/driveways. This is the type of weed killer to choose when you want to get your lawn looking and staying healthy.

Best for Lawns: Bayer Advanced Season Long Weed Control

When you find a great budget weed killer along with the right formula, you will have something that will keep your garden or lawn looking great for months. While budget options that kill existing weeds are plentiful, the best low-cost product is one that keeps the weeds from growing back long after you have removed them from your landscape.

The Bayer Advanced Season Long Weed Control spray is a great budget option for preventative weed control over a long period of time. Lasting up to six months, the weed killer will eliminate existing weeds and stop new ones from growing over that time period. The 20 oz. bottle offers enough weed killer to cover around 7,500 square feet of space using a connectable sprayer.

Best for Gardens:

Choosing the perfect weed killer for a garden can be a difficult process. It is important that the weed killer have the right formula that will not destroy surrounding plants and flowers. For edible gardens, the formula also needs to be safe to use on foods. As a result, the best garden weed killers are not only safe to use, they keep the garden itself alive and healthy while controlling the weed population.

For keeping your garden healthy without wiping out any plants, flowers, or fruits/vegetables, the Preen Garden Weed Preventer is the best preventative measure. Using this weed killer is as simple as sprinkling it around the garden to keep new weeds from growing. The pail includes a shaker scoop so you can get the best coverage possible. Existing weeds will need to be removed manually since this weed killer only prevents new ones from growing.

Best Pre-Emergent

Pre-emergent weed killers work by eliminating weeds at the source. Since many weeds can grow back even when you have killed them once, it is important that the weed killer formula get down to the roots to effectively remove them. Otherwise, you will only be wasting your time and money on products that will not give you the prevention you need for a healthy landscape.

With an unrivaled ability to stop weeds from germinating and growing, the RM43 43-Percent Glyphosate Plus Weed Preventer is the perfect solution for keeping your lawn looking great after you have removed any existing weeds. The large 1-gallon bottle covers around 17,297 square feet of grass, making this one a great economic purchase when you want to save money without losing quality.

Best Emergent:

When you already have weeds to deal Along with, you need an emergent or post-emergent weed killer. These garden products are designed to take out existing weeds from stem to root. Introduced in selective and non-selective varieties, the best emergent weed killers act quickly so you do not have to wait around for your lawn or garden to look good again. In many cases, these weed killers also come Along with a built-in sprayer to make spot removal easier.

Roundup’s Weed and Grass Killer is the product to buy when you have a lawn or garden that needs some focus. Introduced Along with a 1.1-gallon bottle and convenient wand sprayer, the weed killer’s formula is designed to eliminate weeds right down to the root. With the enhanced precision of the wand, you can use the weed killer in the lawn, garden, or driveway while minimizing overspray.

Best Selective:

There are times when you need to remove weeds without wiping out the surrounding area. Since some weed killer options will harm all forms of vegetation, the best route to go is Along with a selective weed killer. Often more limited in the types of weeds they kill, these options are the only way to keep other plants, grass, and vegetables/fruits healthy while removing the bad stuff.

The Pulverize Selective Weed Killer is somewhat of a weed assassin in terms of its precision and effectiveness. Using a fine sprayer, it is easy to apply the weed killer to small spaces where you need to minimize the amount of collateral damage done to the grass and other plants. The formula affects weeds while keeping the surrounding environment healthy Along with less harm done than traditional options.

Best Non-Selective:

If you have a lot of weeds to remove or just plan to start over Along with your lawn or garden, a non-selective weed killer will save you time and money. Instead of keeping surrounding vegetation alive, non-selective weed killers eliminate everything that they touch. This is the best way to remove large amounts of weeds or bring the landscape to the point of reset to start again.

The Spectracide Weed & Grass Killer is a nondiscriminating weed controller that offers the maximum amount of control over vegetation in the lawn or garden. Preventing regrowth for up to three months after application, this weed killer is best used to regain control of a messy landscape or near the start of the spring/summer seasons when weeds come back in full force.